Header image
Enter a name
Lateral view of a Male Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #43 in New York
Blue-winged Olives
Baetis

Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Landscape & scenery photos from Minto Flats

Minto Flats in Alaska
This sky was the perfect scenic complement to the wide-open marsh where we were pike fishing.

From Minto Flats in Alaska
These caches are used by Alaskan natives to store supplies for pike-harvesting season in this network of sloughs and lakes.  That's a raven on top of the left one.

From Minto Flats in Alaska
A cow moose with her calf clamber out of the slough we were fishing for pike.

From Minto Flats in Alaska
Talk about a bad hair day.  This chartreuse/everglow deceiver had been through about 15 northern pike already.

From Minto Flats in Alaska
Minto Flats in Alaska
I took this picture after midnight, when the pike fishing was still hot.

From Minto Flats in Alaska
Minto Flats in Alaska
Out in this pike slough we made an interesting fine, a long-decayed moose carcass.  Against my protest, my dad lifted the skull out of the water as a potential souvenir.  However, it wasn't quite broken down to nothing-but-bone yet, and it smelled horrible, so it went back in the river.

From Minto Flats in Alaska

References

Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy